With the weather getting colder and wetter, painting parts outside has become a challenge. Since spray painting inside isn't an option, I resorted to stepping outside, spray paint and then let it dry in the bathroom with the fan on! Here are some pictures of the Missouri. I guessing some people might want to see the ship partially assembled. I didn't glue the funnels or the anything above the lower bridge. Still have some detail work to do as well as adding some PE. I did purchase the mk.37 directors made by ModelMonkey, so that will be a first for me. I'm debating if I want to purchase the 20mm Oerlikon PE or use the the Eduard set?

As always, feedback is greatly appreciated!

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_________________Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Wow! It's been almost a year since I started on this. I'm amazed with the progress on this ship, although it's been slow going. I've joined the local modelers society so I've been getting some great suggestions from them. I also purchased a used airbrush off Craigslist. I won't be using it on this model but on the next battleship model.

Since my last update, I haven't worked a lot on the ship with the exception of adding some PE ladders and small details on the 2nd funnel. The last few days I've worked on the Mark 8 Fire Control and they turned out alright. Still looks better than what Tamiya's version. I'm amazed how PE can enhanced the look of a model.

I've also started work on the 5 inch guns during the holidays. The last few days I cut off the plastic barrels and added the brass 5 inch barrels. Although they look good, my drill points are just off a little resulting some barrels are just a degree or two off.

Couple things I learned from this experience: my use of CA glue is getting better (I managed not to glue anything to my fingers), and the idea of upgrading the barrels on the bofors 40mm is out the window...too much drilling for something that is way too small even for my four eyes.

Hope to post more photos as I progress. I now have 2 months to finish this project.

Slowly this project is coming along. The 5 inch guns got brass barrels installed, some photoetched parts and slap on some paint and they don't look to bad. Just need a little detail work. I did a lot of research on how the guns look using Navsource and doing some research using Summerall's book and I think I got it right.

I worked on the MK37 and started to put in the photo etch. Sadly, one of the platform arms was missing so I had to improvise using the Modern USS New Jersey Eduard kit. It's not the same, but works...kind of. I'll admit, I'm not very good at bending PE into a round shape. I don't have the proper tool to do it...I'm somewhat happy with how the MK37 turned out, though it does look like a drunk person put it all together.

Well...my build came to a screeching halt since my last post. A newborn kid will do that. So now my progress has been at a snails pace (or perhaps even slower then that). I started working on the Bofors 40mm guns. Initially I was just going to leave the Tamyia barrels in place, but then I saw StevenVD's post and how he cut off the base and just CA the barrels instead of drilling them. So I thought, why not give it a shot. I just ended up cutting small part off, then filing it smoothly and then CA the two pieces together. Probably not the best concept but it works for me.

8 down, 72 more to go.

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_________________Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

The bofr's are close to finish. They were a challenge, at times just frustrating! Some of the barrels didn't line up as well as I was hoping, but not bad for a first timer (IMO). Anyways, I'll just be glad that I can work on something else on this ship.

My wife is urging me to put my this on display at the local model show. I know it's not going to win anything, but what do I have to lose?

I've always known that I am not a master modeler. After seeing the work on this forum and at my local club meetings, it's always cool to see other people's work, and pick up new techniques and raise the bar for my next project.

Here are a few pictures. I still have some detail work to do, like paint the guns black...I had a hard time trying to figure out what the shield colors are for the bofrs. With black and white photos, it's hard to distinguish if it's dark grey or ocean deck blue, so I took a guess. If you see something that is questionable, please let me know. On to the next thing...

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_________________Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

My wife is urging me to put my this on display at the local model show. I know it's not going to win anything, but what do I have to lose?

I've always known that I am not a master modeler. After seeing the work on this forum and at my local club meetings, it's always cool to see other people's work, and pick up new techniques and raise the bar for my next project.

.

She looks really good! And never count yourself out to take home something at a show, not all rewards are trophies. Keep up the great work, you are almost there!

Really hope to see her on the tables in September!

Matt

PS> If you were wondering what show he is referencing, check out OMS Fall Show

Well...since my last post, I've been working on the 20mm Oerlikon for the last 14 days! Initially I had dreams of putting the PE Oerlikon because I wanted the Missouri to have that extra detail. Well, after getting them and then trying to put one together. Needless to say, they're back in a plastic bag and have been cast aside. So I went with the next best thing...the Oerlikon's that came with the kit.

I glued the pieces together a few months ago. When I started working on them, I realized I should have painted them prior to assembly...d'oh! After carefully painting them using a spray can and hand brush, I got about 80% of the Oerlikon's painted. Using the Navsource website, I figured out the port side colors for the guns, but starboard side, that was a challenge but I think I got it. I don't have any of the guns on the starboard side yet, but the port side is coming along. I just need to trim the nubs on the bottom.

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_________________Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

This is from the Eduard instruction manual. I'm working on the radar for this Missouri, but can someone explain how this process works? I get that you get a steel ball and roll the PE in a circular motion until the PE is round. I'm confused about the "soft stock" and "hard stock." What does that mean? Put it on Styrofoam and start rolling?

Anyone have other suggestions to try?

Thanks!

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_________________Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Ooo the soft stock idea is clever - one of the issues I have with using a rolling motion to curve PE (usually railings) is that the railing tends to slide along the hard surface it's on, making it challenging for the rolling device to actually roll along the part. Having a soft surface first helps keep the PE part in one spot, while the hard surface still provides sufficient force for the rolling action to be effective.

I can't remember where I saw it, but somewhere on this site someone said he used a mouse pad and a marble and got excellent results.

Thanks Larry! I'll give that a shot!

I tried using a cloth napkin over a cardboard box and the results were a bit mixed in my opinion. So after awhile I thought, "why not anneal the part? Tried that out and well you can see with the pictures...

So there were a few things I learned from this experiment:

1. Annealing really does help make the PE more bendy.2. Use an electric plate instead of an open flame.3. Since the radar PE is circular, I won't be able to have a radar that has a lot of depth. Go any deeper, the circle will start to loose its shape and some folds will occur.

Anyhoo...I had to order a new PE radar set from Freetime Hobbies. Hopefully I don't it up again...

As I wait for my new SK-2 (which came in today), I worked on the 2nd funnel antenna over the weekend. Doesn't look to bad. Rolling railings is pretty hard, so more practice is needed, but I like how it looks.

The Missouri is coming along, and close to the finish!

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_________________Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

The SK-2 radar came in last week and I worked on it during the holiday weekend. I used Larry's suggestion with the mouse pad and it turned out pretty good. Is it perfect? No, but it was a lot better then my first attempt!

I bought a Tamiya primer and then painted the entire radar structure. I struggled with painting the radar a darker shade, but decided it looked fine with the lighter color.

Now that both masts are up, there really isn't a lot of room to make mistakes. With all the PE parts, and how fragile the work is, I worry that my hands could knock something off! It's a good thing I didn't glue the 2nd funnel down yet! It gives me a little more room to work with, especially when I start doing the rigging...which I've never done before so it should be interesting.

The Missouri is coming along nicely...on to the crane and catapult.

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File comment: Had to cut the radar base and moved it to the PE base. Yes, that's a scissor used to trim nails.Radar assemble1.jpg [ 51.54 KiB | Viewed 417 times ]

File comment: After filing the edges, moved the base to the PE base. Looks much better!Radar assemble2.jpg [ 57.42 KiB | Viewed 417 times ]

I'm really liking what I see. You're doing a fantastic job so far. This boat is really nothing more that a whole lot of tiny sub assemblies and when you get them all built and put together, the result is nothing short of "WOW" The overall effect is so overwhelming that any small defect - and every model is going to have a few, will be totally overlooked.

Keep up the good work, my friend!

PS: Yes, even at 1:200, the 20mm Oerlikons are a real pain in the ass. I can't imagine what they'd be like at 1:350!

_________________Larry Steiner

Currently working on (and will be for years to come!)1:200 USS Missouri (Monster Mo)

I'm really liking what I see. You're doing a fantastic job so far. This boat is really nothing more that a whole lot of tiny sub assemblies and when you get them all built and put together, the result is nothing short of "WOW" The overall effect is so overwhelming that any small defect - and every model is going to have a few, will be totally overlooked.

Keep up the good work, my friend!

PS: Yes, even at 1:200, the 20mm Oerlikons are a real pain in the ass. I can't imagine what they'd be like at 1:350!

Thanks Larry! A lot of the building of the time sub assemblies is all fine and dandy, but it's the mental part (or lack of experience with certain things) is the challenge. Once I got the radar up, it kind of broke down that mental barrier saying "hey I can do this!"

I worked on the crane and affixed it to the Missouri. I spent some time trying to figure out how I should fold the PE. After staring at it for about 30 minutes I just went with it.

Added the catapult and I think most of the heavy building is now done. Next item on the list is to do some detail work, rigging, gluing the 2nd funnel down...oh yeah..the anchors.